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+--- Thread: uBee512 with 56k not formatting diskettes? (/thread-1068.html)
uBee512 with 56k not formatting diskettes? - shane.crozier - 20-08-2026
Hi Folks,
An obscure one, but I have been using the ubee512 emulator to check a few things out and found that using 56k model with 56k master images, he ddformat utility doesnt seem to be able to format the B drive sucessfully - it completes without error but doesnt erase the virtual diskette..
Does anyone have the same issue with the emulation or the real thing?
RE: uBee512 with 56k not formatting diskettes? - Graham72 - 20-08-2026
(20-08-2026, 04:20 PM)shane.crozier Wrote: Hi Folks,
An obscure one, but I have been using the ubee512 emulator to check a few things out and found that using 56k model with 56k master images, he ddformat utility doesnt seem to be able to format the B drive sucessfully - it completes without error but doesnt erase the virtual diskette..
Does anyone have the same issue with the emulation or the real thing?
In my manic learning mode 12! months ago, I think I hit this issue. I resolved it in UBEE512 by deleting everything on a disk then copy pasting that image .dsk in Windows 11 so i had multiple blank disks available. What .dsk size are you using. I was using blank_ds_80.dsk format. cheers g
edited: are you using Windows? if so if you have UBEE512 in program files then it is sandboxed and protects files. your formatted file lives on in another part of the hard drive ////\apps\something or other. But Windows 11 protects the original disk. meh. I fixed this issue by installing UBEE512 outside program files.
RE: uBee512 with 56k not formatting diskettes? - ChickenMan - 21-08-2026
Ubee512 has always had a problem of hit or miss when trying to use a FORMAT feature. Like Graham said, keep a set of plain empty Microbee disks and use them. I can put a set up in the Repository if you think there is a need.
RE: uBee512 with 56k not formatting diskettes? - shane.crozier - 21-08-2026
(20-08-2026, 08:39 PM)Graham72 Wrote:Thankyou ! I use MacOS so not likely to be the protection issue - I guess I can spend some time having a look at the floppy drive debug information and see if its actually formatting (the B: activity light does move though... perhaps ubee512 doesnt emulate a track format?) - I dont recall this being an issue with the 128K or the HDD Images though which is wierd...(20-08-2026, 04:20 PM)shane.crozier Wrote: Hi Folks,
An obscure one, but I have been using the ubee512 emulator to check a few things out and found that using 56k model with 56k master images, he ddformat utility doesnt seem to be able to format the B drive sucessfully - it completes without error but doesnt erase the virtual diskette..
Does anyone have the same issue with the emulation or the real thing?
In my manic learning mode 12! months ago, I think I hit this issue. I resolved it in UBEE512 by deleting everything on a disk then copy pasting that image .dsk in Windows 11 so i had multiple blank disks available. What .dsk size are you using. I was using blank_ds_80.dsk format. cheers g
edited: are you using Windows? if so if you have UBEE512 in program files then it is sandboxed and protects files. your formatted file lives on in another part of the hard drive ////\apps\something or other. But Windows 11 protects the original disk. meh. I fixed this issue by installing UBEE512 outside program files.
(21-08-2026, 02:11 PM)ChickenMan Wrote: Ubee512 has always had a problem of hit or miss when trying to use a FORMAT feature. Like Graham said, keep a set of plain empty Microbee disks and use them. I can put a set up in the Repository if you think there is a need.
Appreciate it - but I think I can get by with erasing disks if necessary - ubee512 also has the facility to create temporary disks (and rename them) which would also work for me ...
RE: uBee512 with 56k not formatting diskettes? - zbfairlane - 27-08-2026
(21-08-2026, 02:11 PM)ChickenMan Wrote: Ubee512 has always had a problem of hit or miss when trying to use a FORMAT feature. Like Graham said, keep a set of plain empty Microbee disks and use them. I can put a set up in the Repository if you think there is a need.Yes please ChickenMan, That would be very useful.
RE: uBee512 with 56k not formatting diskettes? - ChickenMan - 28-08-2026
Okay, I have put a copy of the main blank Microbee Disk images in the Public Repository in the Blank_Disk_Images folder. These files contain no boot or system track and no files. Useful for building images in ubee512 emulator. Use Sysgen/Setup/Init etc to put what ever boot system you want (if needed) and copy whatever files you want. For a 128k disk don't forget to copy shell.sys and ccp.sys. The images included are -
empty_image_ds40.dsk - the 3 main Microbee disk formats
empty_image_ds80.dsk
empty_image_ss80.dsk
empty_image_ds82.dsk - Dreamdisc, Peter Broughton etc formats
empty_image_ds84.dsk
empty_image_ds8b.dsk
RE: uBee512 with 56k not formatting diskettes? - Graham72 - 28-08-2026
(28-08-2026, 10:37 AM)ChickenMan Wrote: Okay, I have put a copy of the main blank Microbee Disk images in the Public Repository in the Blank_Disk_Images folder. These files contain no boot or system track and no files. Useful for building images in ubee512 emulator. Use Sysgen/Setup/Init etc to put what ever boot system you want (if needed) and copy whatever files you want. For a 128k disk don't forget to copy shell.sys and ccp.sys. The images included are -
empty_image_ds40.dsk - the 3 main Microbee disk formats
empty_image_ds80.dsk
empty_image_ss80.dsk
empty_image_ds82.dsk - Dreamdisc, Peter Broughton etc formats
empty_image_ds84.dsk
empty_image_ds8b.dsk
Thanks, CM - all bytes e4 or e5 ?can't remember which!
RE: uBee512 with 56k not formatting diskettes? - ChickenMan - 28-08-2026
E5